A popular public piano believed to have been smashed up on a drunken night out has been replaced - and now it's looking better than ever.
Thousands were horrified when the much-loved piano in the concourse at Newcastle Central Station was .
The soundboard at the back of the piano had been kicked through, before the strings were ripped apart. Though no police charges were ever brought, it was claimed the damage had been done late at night by a group thought to be a hen party.
Peter Tracey, a Rotary Club member and volunteer for the cancer charity Daft as a Brush , who helped introduce the first piano to the station, was determined to bring music back to the building, so he launched a search for a new piano to replace the one that had been broken. He was inundated with offers, but this old Oscar Lobl upright piano, found in Ryton Methodist Church, was the perfect candidate.
Peter said: "It's in great condition for an old piano. Of course, the benefit of it is it's uplifting for the people passing by who get to hear it, but it's of even bigger benefit to the people who come here and are able to play the piano for free."
The piano was restored and installed in the station on Tuesday, covered in advertising for local charity Daft as a Brush, which helps transport cancer patients to hospital.
Charity founder Brian Burnie said: "I've flown over specially from Donegal, which is where I am now in my 7,000 mile walk around Britain and Ireland to raise money for the charity , to see the launch of the piano. It looks great and its all to raise more money and awareness for the charity."
Ernest Young, who conducts and helps organise the charity's famous Proms concert and their children's proms, added: "We've seen pianos like this in a lot of different locations and you can see how much people enjoy them - there's already a guy who has just walked over and started playing. People get great enjoyment from them."
Although a collecting bucket can't be securely installed with the piano, fellow volunteer Dave Harrison said the idea was to raise awareness of the charity, while "bringing some fun" to the station.
The first member of the public to give the piano a try was Agamemnon Krasoulis, a regular station visitor who was delighted to see a piano returned to the concourse.
He said: "It's really great, I really missed it when it wasn't here. I come here to Newcastle quite often and whenever I get the opportunity to play the piano I always do it."
